Afrexim AMCE CEO: Burnout and Poor Support Systems Undermining Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria

Story written (By SpringnewsNG Media Limited) August 8,2025

Burnout, Lack of Support Systems Hindering Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria – Afrexim AMCE Boss

The Chief Executive Officer of the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), Brian Deaver, has warned that Nigeria and other African nations will continue to struggle with delivering effective healthcare unless urgent steps are taken to support, value, and empower health professionals.

Speaking at the BusinessDay Health Conference in Abuja on Thursday, themed “Bridging the Gap: Advancing Equitable and Affordable Access to Healthcare in Nigeria”, Deaver said that burnout and lack of appreciation are among the major barriers preventing healthcare workers from performing optimally.

“Burned-out staff struggle to deliver compassionate care. Unsupported team members won’t innovate. Unappreciated professionals won’t stay,” Deaver said.
“If we want a healthcare system that heals, we must first build environments where caregivers thrive.”

According to him, healthcare delivery across Nigeria and the continent remains largely fragmented, underfunded, and reactive. He noted that in many cases, patients are treated as “cases to manage” rather than “human beings to serve,” with their dignity compromised and voices ignored.

Deaver emphasized that transforming healthcare delivery requires leadership that goes beyond strategy and funding. He urged the government to prioritize systems that center patient experience, reduce wait times, and ensure equal access to care for women, the elderly, the disabled, and those in rural areas.

“When my healthcare team members feel valued and cared for, I don’t have to worry about patients being treated with dignity and respect,” he added.

Deaver stressed the urgent need for collaboration over competition among healthcare providers, stating that no single hospital, regardless of size or funding, can cater to the healthcare needs of over 200 million Nigerians and 400 million West Africans.

“We are not in the business of market share. We are in the business of saving lives,” he stated.

He proposed a regional referral network where public, private, and mission-based hospitals share infrastructure and expertise, radiology scans and lab results are digitally accessible, and patients are referred and tracked seamlessly across facilities.

“This is not science fiction. It’s possible with the right will, trust, and leadership,” he noted.

Deaver further called on federal, state, and local governments to work together on joint planning, shared infrastructure, public health data management, and capacity building. He emphasized that government leadership is crucial in defining national health priorities, improving regulation, and funding healthcare access.

Written by SpringnewsNG Media Limited
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